Changes in the plasma activities of protein C and protein S during pregnancy
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2000
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Abstract
The objective of the study was to determine the changes in the plasma activities of protein C and protein S that occur during normal pregnancy. In this prospective cross-sectional study, plasma activities of protein C and protein S were measured in 32 normal pregnant women in the first, second and third trimester and 6 weeks after delivery. There was a significant fall in protein C and protein S activities during normal pregnancy compared with the post-puerperal period. The activities of protein C and protein S also gradually decreased throughout pregnancy (p < 0.01). Increasing plasma volume during normal pregnancy and its dilutional effect might play some role in the low activities of protein S observed. The normal falls in protein S and protein C activities make it difficult to diagnose protein S and C deficiency during pregnancy. Based on our findings, if a woman has a thromboembolic event during pregnancy, testing for a definitive diagnosis of protein C or protein S deficiency or functional failure should be delayed until at least 6 weeks postpartum.
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Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Plasma Volume , Postpartum Period , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic , Pregnancy Trimester, First , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Prospective Studies , Protein C , Protein C Deficiency , Protein S , Protein S Deficiency , Reference Values , Reproducibility of Results , Thromboembolism , plasma protein , protein C , protein S , article , clinical article , controlled study , delivery , diagnostic procedure , dilution , female , first trimester pregnancy , human , plasma volume , pregnancy , prenatal care , priority journal , prospective study , protein analysis , protein deficiency , puerperium , second trimester pregnancy , third trimester pregnancy , thromboembolism